Today’s THE day! Yay. Just went out to brunch, as usual, Sunday morning, was hoping to snap a photo of someone (surreptitiously on my phone) but unfortunately I did not bump into anyone famous. But all the local breakfast eateries are packed and all the hairdressing salons are open (remember, it’s Sunday). I drove past Elton’s party place (which is in a tent outside the Pacific Design Center on Melrose), the roads are getting ready to close for the event.

A couple of years ago I was walking by there in the afternoon with my friend, Glenda, and my dog and we heard beautiful music wafting onto the street so we started walking even slower, and lo and behold, it was Alicia Keyes. While we were standing outside listening, an audience of 3, a car pulled up with a couple of dogs and the next car pulled up with Elton! It was a wonderful little life’s vignette, he stopped to speak to us while we stood there pinching ourselves!! It’s Caren and Glenda from Johannesburg! My friend Steve who owns the restaurant I had breakfast at this morning, La Conversation on Doheny, bakes all the pastries for Elton’s party (of course these are donated, the funds from the party go to AIDs research) and, try as I do, he will not let me come and make a mess of his kitchen, or serve, or anything I’ve begged to do. Can’t say I blame him, doesn’t stop me from trying.

La Conversation

The sun is out but unfortunately there are some black clouds drifting over the mountains, rain rain go away, come again another day! It really is an exciting day in LA, everyone’s working (and making some money), charities are benefitting, everyone’s excited. Someone made a comment to my last blog that perhaps the Oscars should be shunned and more attention should be paid to Darfur and the sufferings of others. I feel differently, look at George Clooney, for example (or for any reason, actually). If it wasn’t for his star status would he have been able to bring so much attention to Darfur, and raise as much money as he has for the citizens in need, there? Happily, most of the true stars of Hollywood use their star status to bring attention to causes they believe in, so not only do we benefit from fabulous movies, a great escape from our sometimes harsh world, but they actually do good in many different ways, bringing employment to those who work on the movies, and to those who work in movie houses, and in their many different fund-raising capacities. For example, Elton’s party tonight will raise millions for AIDs research, you know that George will bring attention to the Darfur plight, and I am quite sure all those stars who jumped right on the bandwagon will bring even more attention to those suffering in Haiti and Chile. This is a day for everyone to feel good and enjoy the movies!

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About Caren

Caren Banks was born in Paris, France; grew up in South Africa and has now been in the States for almost 35 years - and, wow, had to use her fingers to work that out. Does this mean she's getting younger? Except for 6 years in the 80's when she lived in Connecticut, she's spent the entire time in the Hollywood area in Los Angeles, and the last 20 years or so in the safari business in one form or another.